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Shaw psychological test, United Kingdom, 1948

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The ‘Shaw test of abstract thought’ is a psychological test. These four metal blocks form part of it. The subject uses the blocks to make as many meaningful sequences as they can in nine minutes. There is one hexagon block marked ‘A’ on one end and ‘LAMB’ on the other, one cuboid marked ‘B’ and ‘RAT’, one pentagon marked ‘C’ and ‘OX’, and one triangle marked ‘D’ and ‘WHALE’. Simple sequences might be based in colour. More creative ones could use the animal names or letters written on the blocks. The test comes from The Institute of Psychology, London. It has been used to measure brain injury, creative imagination and intelligence.